Immune cell therapy takes on stubborn muscle weakness
NCT ID NCT07243366
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This early-phase trial tests a new treatment for people with refractory myasthenia gravis, a condition causing severe muscle weakness. The treatment uses donor immune cells (CAR-NK cells) engineered to target and calm the immune system's attack on muscles. Fifteen participants will receive infusions every two weeks for 24 weeks, with researchers monitoring safety and any changes in daily living and muscle strength.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- CD19-CAR-NK cells (immune cells engineered to target CD19)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a new treatment option for people with hard-to-control myasthenia gravis.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, small trial (15 people) testing safety first. The treatment may not improve symptoms, and side effects from the immune cells are possible.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Early phase 1
The earliest testing in people: a first look at safety, in a very small group.
- Participants
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About 15 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Nov 2025
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Nov 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 18-65 years old, including the boundary value, no gender restriction; * MGFA clinical class II-IV; * Anti-acetylcholine-receptor antibody (AChR-Ab) shows positive; * Willing to participate in the study, understand and sign the informed consent form (ICF). * Baseline characteristics - all must be fulfilled: 1. Refractory MG patients: Meet the diagnostic criteria in the Chinese Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of MG (2020 edition). On the basis of typical MG clinical features (fluctuating muscle weakness), a diagnosis can be made if any of the following three points are met, including pharmacological examination, electrophysiological characteristics, and serum anti-AChR antibody testing. Other diseases must also be excluded. 2. Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) score ≥ 6, with ocular sub-score \< 50 % of total. * Diagnostic Criteria: Meeting any one of the following four conditions: 1. Following an adequate dose and full course of at least two conventional immunotherapies (including both corticosteroids and non-steroidal immunosuppressants), and at least one complete treatment cycle with a biologic agent (efgartigimod, eculizumab, rituximab, or telitacicept), the post-intervention status (PIS) remains unchanged or worsens. 2. Following an adequate dose and full course of at least two conventional immunotherapies (including both corticosteroids and non-steroidal immunosuppressants) and at least one complete treatment cycle with a biologic agent, the PIS improves, yet the MG-ADL score is still ≥6 and persists for at least six months. 3. Following an adequate dose and full course of at least two conventional immunotherapies (including both corticosteroids and non-steroidal immunosuppressants) and at least one complete treatment cycle with a biologic agent, the PIS shows remission or improvement; however, during the regular tapering of immunotherapy drugs, the patient experiences ≥2 exacerbations per year with an MG-ADL score ≥6. 4. Despite treatment with multiple immunotherapies-including intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), plasma exchange, and high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP)-as well as aggressive infection control after a myasthenic crisis, the patient remains unable to be weaned from mechanical ventilation for more than 14 days due to respiratory muscle weakness caused by MG. * Within 30 days before enrollment: glucocorticoids unchanged for 1 month, immunosuppressants for 3 months, pyridostigmine for 2 weeks, and stable MG-ADL score for 1 month. Note: 1. "Two conventional immunotherapies" consist of one corticosteroid plus one non-steroidal immunosuppressant. 2. "Adequate dose for a full course" is defined as follows: 1) Corticosteroid: 0.5-1.0 mg · kg-¹ · d-¹ for ≥ 8 weeks. 2) One of the following non-steroidal immunosuppressants taken for the specified minimum duration: A. Azathioprine: 1.5-2.5 mg · kg-¹ · d-¹ in 2-3 divided doses for ≥ 24 weeks. B. Methotrexate: 15 mg once weekly for ≥ 24 weeks. C. Mycophenolate mofetil: 0.75-1.00 g twice daily for ≥ 24 weeks. D. Cyclophosphamide: 400-800 mg intravenously every week OR 100 mg/day orally in two divided doses, with a cumulative dose ≥ 15 g. E. Tacrolimus: 2-3 mg/day with at least one trough level ≥ 4.8 ng/mL for ≥ 12 weeks. F. Cyclosporine: 2-4 mg · kg-¹ · d-¹ in two divided doses, with at least one fasting trough level ≥ 100 ng/mL for ≥ 24 weeks. 3. Failure to complete the full dose and course of any one conventional immunotherapy due to contraindications, comorbidities, or inability to tolerate drug adverse effects is considered equivalent to having an inadequate response after completing a full dose and course of that conventional immunotherapy. 4. Biologic agents include efgartigimod, eculizumab, rituximab, and telitacicept. Exclusion Criteria: * Received IVMP, IVIG, or TPE within the 2 months before the current visit; * Unable to cooperate in completing the MG-ADL, or QMG, or Quantitative QMG questionnaire. * Judged by a senior clinician to have any of the following: 1)Severe or chronic urinary-tract infection; 2)History of recurrent infections; 3)Previous allergy to any human-derived biologic drug; 4)Depression, suicidal ideation, or other psychiatric disorder; * Patients with active infection, such as herpes zoster, HIV, active tuberculosis, or active hepatitis. * Rituximab within 6 months, eculizumab within 3 months, or efgartigimod within 1 month before enrollment. * Receipt of any live vaccine within 3 months before screening or planned vaccination during the study. * Subjects deemed unsuitable for participation in this trial by the investigator (e.g., severe psychiatric illness).
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
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The official record
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A doctor treating you
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